Leave a legacy gift to charity in your Will -

Leave a legacy gift to
charity in your Will

Why leave a legacy gift in your Will to The Mikaere Foundation?

Your gift could fund the groundbreaking research, cutting-edge medical equipment and support services that children and families living with Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH) urgently need.

Leave a legacy of hope for the hundreds of children from across the UK who are born with Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia, for this generation and those to come. There will always be children born with Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia (NKH) and we want to make sure we’re there to support them when they need us.

Once you’ve taken care of your loved ones, a gift of 5% of your estate could transform a child’s life.
With your help, we can give seriously ill children the best chance, and the best childhoods, possible.

What is a legacy gift and legacy giving?

A legacy gift is a gift that someone leaves to a charity in their Will.

The most common types of legacy gifts left in Wills are:

Residuary gift: the residue (or a proportion of the residue) of an estate after all other gifts, debts and expenses have been paid.
Pecuniary gift: This is a fixed amount. This type of gift will, over time, devalue with inflation. If you want to futureproof your legacy, you can ask your solicitor about index-linking your gift so its value keeps pace with inflation.
Specific gift: a particular asset, for example an investment or property.

Frequently asked questions

How do I leave a gift The Mikaere Foundation in my Will?

Creating a new Will
If you are drafting your Will from scratch, we recommend you use a solicitor or professional Will writer. The cost is relatively modest (and in some cases, free) and it can help reduce the likelihood of your wishes being challenged after you pass away. You can inform your solicitor or professional Will writer that you would like to leave a gift to the Mikaere Foundation and they will help you to include it in your wishes.

Making a simple change to your Will
You can easily update your Will using a legal document called a codicil. A codicil is used to make simple amendments to your current Will without revoking it. It’s completed in the same way as your Will and should be stored with your Will for safekeeping.

Making a significant change to your Will
If you would like to make significant changes to your Will you may feel that your Will should be redrafted. This will revoke any existing Will and we recommend that you consult your solicitor or a professional Will writer to ensure that your Will is drafted and executed correctly. If your Will is a simple one, use our free Will-writing partner, Free Wills

Is there specific legal wording I should use in my Will?

If you choose to leave us a gift in your Will, the following provides examples of the wording that could be used when drafting or amending your Will. Please always check with your solicitor or professional Will writer to ensure that your wishes will be met.

Wording if you’re leaving The Mikaere Foundation a percentage of your estate (also referred to as a residuary gift):
I give ……. per cent (…….%) of the residue of my real and personal estate to The Mikaere Foundation (registered charity no. 1200720) and the receipt of a duly authorised officer for the time being of The Mikaere Foundation shall be sufficient discharge for my Executors.

Wording if you’re leaving The Mikaere Foundation a set sum (also referred to as a pecuniary gift):
I give ……. pounds (£…….) to The Mikaere Foundation (registered charity no. 1200720) and the receipt of a duly authorised officer for the time being of The Mikaere Foundation shall be sufficient discharge for my Executors.

Wording if you’re leaving The Mikaere Foundation a particular asset (also referred to as a specific gift):
I give my ……. (include a description of the asset here) to The Mikaere Foundation (registered charity no. 1200720) and the receipt of a duly authorised officer for the time being of The Mikaere Foundation shall be sufficient discharge for my Executors.

The full legal description that should always be used to describe the charity in a Will is: The Mikaere Foundation (Registered Charity No. 1200720).

Do I need to tell The Mikaere Foundation if I’ve included a gift in my Will?

You don’t need to tell us but, if you are happy to do so, letting us know about your gift will help us to plan for the future as well giving us the chance to say thank you today. Anything you tell us will be treated confidentially and is not legally binding. Email hello@mikerefoundation.org to let us know.

What if I’ve already written my will?

Even if you have a Will, it’s important that it’s kept up to date, particularly if there are any major changes in your life or your family. For small changes, a codicil can be added to your existing Will. If you have a lot of changes to make, or if you already have a codicil, we suggest rewriting your will completely to prevent any confusion with your documents.

You may already have a trusted solicitor or Will-writer, but if you need any support, The Mikaere Foundation is here to help and can offer you a referral to one of our free Will-writing partners.

How does a charity legacy impact inheritance tax?

If you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity the rate of any Inheritance Tax payable reduces from 40% to 36%. We recommend that you speak to a legal advisor about how the Inheritance Tax rules apply to you and your particular circumstances. As a charity we’re not able to offer legal or tax advice.

Does the Mikaere Foundation take part in Free Wills Month?

The Mikaere Foundation has an always on free Wills offer which supporters can be referred to at any time, regardless of their age. You can write your Will online for free, using freewills.co.uk.